National Donut Day (June 7th this year) is probably my favorite unofficial holiday. l love donuts of all kinds, but particularly denser, heavier, and cakier donuts. (But hey, if you love the lighter glazed donuts, more power to you! On National Donut Day, we celebrate all kinds.)
And note well: Everyone can celebrate National Donut Day! While most of the chains are still stuffed with allergens, you can always make donuts at home to celebrate (it’s surprisingly easy). There are even plenty of delicious gluten-free donut recipes out there.
You can get many of these donuts as freebies for National Donut Day, by the way – here’s a list of the biggest and best offers by chain.
#10: Krispy Kreme Original Glazed
The original Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut (that’s how they spell it, with the extra “ugh”) – is a perennial crowd pleaser, ESPECIALLY if you can get it hot straight from the oven. It’s not, like, my #1 favorite donut or anything, but it’s a good, solid choice that everyone knows and loves. Krispy Kreme is offering customers a free donut for visiting their store on National Donut Day. You don’t have to buy anything else, and the only limitation is that it can’t be one of their specialty or time-limited flavors.
Plus, if you buy a dozen donuts at Krispy Kreme tomorrow, you can get a dozen original glazed for just $2 in the app. Why not be the office hero?
#9: Dunkin’s Double Chocolate Donut
Listen, I love chocolate, and I love double chocolate twice as much. This is a great, cakey donut, so highly recommend. My only complaint? Dunkin’s National Donut Day offer isn’t all that generous – you get a free donut when you buy a drink. That’s fine if you were already planning to get a drink, but otherwise it’s a little bit of a rip-off in my opinion.
Still though – great donut, and worth getting even if it isn’t free!
#8: LaMar’s Chocolate Fluff Filled Long John
If you live in the Midwest or interior West, chances are good you’ve been to LaMar’s, which is a popular regional chain in the area. I went a few years back while visiting family in Colorado, and their Long Johns (which look a lot like eclairs) are just to die for. You can’t get this donut for free on National Donut Day (LaMar’s is just giving away Original Glazed donuts for free tomorrow), but to be honest this donut is worth paying for. Yes, I know, it doesn’t have the hole in the center or the circular shape – but it’s definitely a donut, and it’s fantastic.
#7: Duck Donuts’ Blueberry Lemonade Donut
Blueberry and lemon are such delicious, refreshing, summary flavors – and Duck Donuts’ delicate blueberry lemonade donut is just about flawless. I love a little fruit in my donuts, and Duck Donuts really delivers the taste with this delicious fan favorite treat. It’s not free for National Donut Day (I’m revealing their free donut in spot #3, below), but it’s worth buying anyway, as it’ll be a delightful celebration for your taste buds anyway.
#6: Dunkin’s Sour Cream Donut
Dunkin’s sour cream donut is, in my opinion, far superior to your traditional plain glazed donut. It’s cakier, crispier, and the sour cream gives it a fullness and complexity that normal, lighter donuts lack. Highly recommend giving this one a try (and, sure, buy a drink if you have to to get it for free).
#5: Make Your Own Donut
I’m serious – it’s way easier than you think. My favorite donut recipe involves some pretty cool ingredients too – water chestnut flour (don’t worry, if you don’t have any, there are plenty of good substitutions), coconut flour and coconut oil, and maple syrup (plus a few more).
And best of all? If you have a flavor you want that you can’t buy at a donut shop…you can just add it in to the mix! Infinitely customizable.
#4: Krispy Kreme’s Glazed Raspberry-Filled Donut
I’m 100% sure you’ve had a jam-filled donut before. Usually they’re a little sickly sweet, the powdered sugar gets everywhere…sound familiar?
There are two things I really love about Krispy Kreme’s take on this donut that make it FAR superior to your typical jam-filled donut.
#1: No powdered sugar. It’s just glazed! You get all the sugar but without the mess. (And honestly, glazed tastes better to me than straight powdered sugar anyway.)
#2: Great raspberry jam. A lot of donut raspberry jam is sickly sweet – I’ve found that Krispy Kreme’s really brings that nice balance of sourness. Chef’s kiss.
#3: Krispy Kreme’s Glazed Blueberry Cake Donut
Cake donuts are the bomb. (Like I said about Dunkin’s sour cream donut earlier.)
The difference with this donut vs Dunkin’s is that you get that thicker crust, and of course the delicious blueberry flavor.
This is the best-executed blueberry cake donut I’ve ever had, period. And what better way to celebrate National Donut Day than with an amazing donut?
#2: Dunkin’s Boston Kreme Donut
Filled donuts are great. Filled donuts topped with chocolate are better. Filled donuts topped with chocolate and filled with boston cream flavoring? They’re the best.
And Dunkin’s Boston Kreme Donut is one of the best versions of the Boston Cream Pie donut that I’ve ever had. (And no surprise- Dunkin’ is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.)
If only the donut were free instead of just free *with* a drink!
#1: Krispy Kreme’s Chocolate Iced Donut with Kreme Filling
Listen, it’s just like Dunkin’s Boston Kreme Donut…just a little better. (There – I said what I said.)
You’ll love it. Get it. Get two. Get twelve, and then take advantage of Krispy Kreme’s offer of a dozen original glazed for $2!
And enjoy your National Donut Day!
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